Rope-holding device.



No. 876,770. I PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908. W. BRUNDELL.

ROPE HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 5. 1907- anueufoi .ZZ/Z ZZJZZIIZ v Era/Z6261;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROPE-HOLDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Application filed March 5. 1907, Serial No. 360.662.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BRUNDELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon,have invented new and useful Improvements in Ropc- Holding Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rope holding devices designed especially forholding clothes lines, awning ropes, curtain cords and the like, and hasfor its objects to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive device ofthis character which, in practice, will automatically clamp and securelyhold the rope with which it is engaged and one from which the rope maybe readily released when circumstances require.

IVith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully describedhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a deviceembodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken centrally andlongitudinally therethrough. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the deviceshown in an inverted position for fastening a rope pulled in theopposite direction from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a centralsectional view of a modified form of the device.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises amain clamping member or plate 1 and an auxiliary clamping member orplate 2 disposed at an angle to the plate 1 and to the inner end ofwhich there is hinged a section or leaf 3, there being hinged to theinner end of the plate 1 a similar section or leaf 41 which, togetherwith the leaf 3, may be attached by screws or other fastening members 5to a suitable support.

Attached to the outer end of the clamping member 1 is an openrectangular strap 6 constituting a guideway in which the plate 2 isslidably disposed, while formed in the plate 2 at a point between itsends and immediately adjacent to the outer edge of the guide-strap 6 isa transverse slot 7 adapted to receive the rope or cord 8 to be clamped,said slot being open at one end to permit entrance of the rope into orits removal from the slot.

Attached to the plate 2 at a point in rear of the guide-strap 6 is apair of headed pins or studs 9, on which is coiled a spring 10 havingforwardly extending engaging portions or arms 11 adapted to bear on therear edge of the strap 6 and tending to move the same toward the slot 7.

In practice, when the rope 8 is entered in the slot 7, tension isexerted on the rope in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1and 2, and tends to swing the plates 1 and 2 on their pivots, therebycausing the guidestrap 6 to move outward on the plate 2 and bite againstthe adjacent edge of the rope for clamping the same in the plate, thismovement being facilitated by the action of the spring 10. When it isdesired to release the rope from the clamping device, the rope is movedin a direction reversely to that indicated by the arrow, thereby movingthe plates 1 and 2 in the same direction, whereby the strap 6 willtravel away from the slot 7 against the action of spring 10 to releasethe rope and permit its ready removal from the slot. When the device issupported in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be used forsupporting articles to be exhib ited for sale, for supporting hides,furs etc., in tanneries and for other similar uses where the weight ofthe article supported exerts a downward pull. In the position shown inFig. 3, the device serves to grip a rope or other object when the pullis in an upward direction, as for instance, where the device is used forholding an awning cord.

In order to prevent the member 1 from sliding off the member 2 when noobject is gripped by the device and when the latter is supported asshown in Fig. 1, a stop 12 is secured to the plate 2 adjacent its outeredge, the stop being a screw or other suitable means and arranged toprevent the strap 6 from passing off the outer end of the plate 2.

Instead of providing separate leaves for hingedly mounting the plates 1and 2, the said plates can be hinged on a common support 13, as shown inFig. 4. This support or base comprises a piece of sheet metal having itsends formed into pintle-receiving eyes 14 to which the plates 1 and 2are connected, and the plate is provided with openings for receivingscrews or other fastenings 1.5.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A device of theclass described comprising a member provided with a rope-receiving slotopen at one side to permit a rope to be inserted or removed laterally,means for mounting the member to swing, a second member mountedto'swing, and a guide on the second member slidably engaging on thefirst to move longitudinally thereof and adapted to directly engage arope extending through the slot.

2. 1n a device of the class described, the combination of a plate havinga transversely extending slot extending inwardly from one edge, a secondmember, separate pivots on which the members swing, a guide fixed on thefree end of the second member and movable longitudinally on the firstmember and adapted to pass over the slot to directly engage a ropetherein, and a spring fixed on the first member and bearing against theguide for urging the latter across the slot.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a plate having a transversely extending slot extendinginwardly fromone edge, a second member, separate pivots'on which themembers swing, a guide fixed on the free end of the second member andmovable longitudinally on the first member and adapted to pass over theslot to directly engage a rope therein, a spring fixed on the firstmember and bearing against the guide for urging the latter across theslot, and a stop on the first member disposed between the free extremitythereof and the slot.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WVILLIAM BRUNDELL.

Witnesses:

S. L. HARRY, JENs OLSEN.

